KETO-STEVE RESET

After I ran New York last year, I promised myself that I would work on myself.  I wanted to dedicate my time to getting stronger.  I knew in 2016 that the speeds and distances I was running were not maintainable for a long time.  And most people know that only running is not a healthy way to workout.  It was the main reason I joined Evofit.  But this year, I really wanted to dedicate myself to getting my whole body fit.  Time passed and the holidays rolled through.  I was working out 6 times a week at Evofit and running 3-4 times a week but I wasn't losing any weight.  January rolled around and the gym and office weightloss challenges began.  I didn't gain or lose.  I just maintained.  But how?  It all started with when I hit lifetime at Weight Watchers in 2016.

Since I hit lifetime with Weight Watchers I have struggled mightily with maintaining.  In the beginning, it was Weight Watchers fault.  They closed the Red Mill store where I felt comfortable and was nearby.  The Weight Watcher plan doesn't really work for highly active maintenance.  For maintaining, they add points so you don't lose any more.  Plus, if you are active like I am, you get a bunch of "extra points".  Basically, if you eat proteins and vegetables for most of your meals, you can cheat on whatever you wanted.  It didn't work for me.  I struggled really bad in the beginning and finally just quit.  

A year later I tried tracking with another app.  It didn't help either.  I still wasn't following what I should.  

I realized I needed to change something. I talked to Debbie at Evofit and she gave me a book by Mark Sisson, The Keto Reset Diet (Buy it.  It is a great read on how your body works on burning fuel aka food).  After reading it and understanding the principles of it, it made sense.  In June, I started.  It was not and still isn't very easy.  Not because of willpower or limits.  It's mostly because as humans we have made everything loaded with sugars and carbs.  

Think about it......how many people drink soda?  Put sugar in coffee?  Eat a snack like a cookie or a doughnut?  Eat pizza, sandwiches, and tacos?  

So I decided I was going to have a few rules I would follow.  I would cut out all the sugar except a small amount for coffee in the morning and I would still be able to drink beer (just on a limited basis).  I know, I know.....its not following the Keto Reset standards but Come on.....This is the Keto-Steve reset.  Once I squared away my coffee issues, I was good to go.  No bread, tortillas, pizza (I miss you PIZZA).  

A normal day for me was coffee with creamer and minimal sugar for breakfast, lots of healthy proteins and vegetables for lunch (minus corn, potatoes, and most beans), and a protein and vegetables for dinner.  The good thing is I can eat all the cheese and avocados I could ever imagine.  I can also eat all the proteins I want.  

Try eating a burger without a bun or tacos on a lettuce wrap.  The flavors of the marinate, protein and sauces come out way more without the carbs in the way.  

The biggest things I miss is the pizza and snacks.  Try figuring out how to get your sweet tooth craving.  My go-to is keto cookies Lori makes me that are made with cream cheese, almond flour, vanilla and I think butter.  For pizza, we have made cauliflower crusts.  It sort of does the trick but not really.  

Overall though, It has been enjoyable.  It has forced me more to concentrate on what I am taking into my body instead of how much.   A few things I have learned along the way is how much high fructose corn syrup and sugar are in everything.

The hardest thing for me has been the weight loss itself.  Sometimes I beat myself up but I need a reminder that I am way stronger than I was two years ago.  Shit.....when I started, I could barely do a single deadlift without my back or hamstrings going out.  Now I am doing things in the gym I never imagined before I started.  My biggest reminders are not even the pounds but instead the inches.  I have noticed a huge increase in inches lost.  And knowing I'm stronger and healthier makes me feel good.

But good things come with hard work.  I finally hit twenty-pound weight loss this week.  I still have some more to go but I feel great about it.  Other than having to make decisions at restaurants some may think is weird, it really hasn't affected me. But hitting a goal was awesome.  I don't even have a weight goal in mind.  Only because when I was infatuated with a weight number, it was more important than my overall health.  This time around I will need to pay attention to my body and mind.  My goal weight is going to be completely different and that is okay.

One thing I have learned though is that I am going to have to work on this my whole life.  Obesity and food addiction run deep in my genes.  But I am a fighter though.  So Bring it.

On my next blog episode, I will discuss the life of having one bathroom and demoing and remodeling all in one week (Pray for me).